Annual Accounts 2011-2012 (pdf - 973 kB) - Royal Botanic Garden ...

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31 March 2012
landscapes which we aim to maintain to the highest standards. All four gardens are listed as
‘Outstanding’ works of art and for horticultural interest in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed
landscapes in Scotland, published by the Countryside Commission for Scotland and the Historic
Buildings and Monuments Directorate, Scottish Development Department. The Botanic Cottage
(the Head Gardener’s cottage at the former Leith Walk garden), the Golden Gates at Benmore
and the Tropical Palmhouse are all on our list of buildings requiring restoration in the coming
years. From a living collections perspective, these four outstandingly curated gardens also
provide a safe haven for many species of plants, birds, and animals which constitute our
biodiversity and these are now monitored on a regular basis as part of our Environmental
Management System. The herbarium and library / archive contain collections are a unique
source in Scottish terms and rank amongst the top ten international collections of their type.
Due to their worldwide range, national and international research scientists come to study the
material in the collections.
Our excellent estate complements our international reputation for our research activities. There
are two KPIs. The first related to the number of accessions in the Living Collection and the
percentage on-line. The target was 34,100 accessions with 100% on-line. The achievement
was 34,507 with all 100% being available on-line. Over the past 10 years RBGE has been
making available the collection data relating to herbarium specimens and now approximately
20% of the estimated 3 million specimens are represented by some data online. A major
digitisation programme at RBGE, with investment from external funds and the Scottish
Government, has now resulted in making images of 157,814 of these specimens available
online, up from 92,778 last year. These images are taken at very high resolution, enabling
scientists around the world to examine the specimens in remarkable detail.
Of the Garden’s many historic buildings and heritage collections it is worth noting that the two
listed Palm Houses and the 1967, and now listed, ‘Front Range’ display glasshouses escaped
serious damage in the 3 January gales which did so much damage to our research
glasshouses. The Golden Gates at Benmore have been the subject of much planning and
fundraising and it is pleasing to report that they will be fully restored, and the surrounding
landscape improved, during next year. It is worth noting that the entire cost of gilding was raised
from external, not public, funds. John Hope’s Botanic Cottage has continued to be the subject of
much planning and discussion and opportunity of rebuilding it now rests on the success of a
recently submitted Heritage Lottery Fund application.
Improving Quality of Life
RBGE with its four well maintained gardens makes a major contribution to the quality of life for
both citizens in, and visitors to, Scotland. Our public offer provides people with the opportunity
to enjoy plants, green spaces, art, exhibitions and beauty. Our gardens provide the opportunity
to enjoy fresh air and nature and to escape from the pressures of modern life which is
conducive to improved health and therefore a sustainable lifestyle. Relaxation and stress
reduction are known be one of the benefits of visiting gardens while it also represents a good
source of physical activity helping to combat obesity which is a serious threat to the nation’s
health. Garden visiting means added activity for young children who often lack physical
exertion, adults who need more of it and seniors who are looking for ways to increase daily
movement. Our gardens are of special interest to gardeners seeking horticultural ideas and
information and home gardening also helps relaxation, stress reduction, weight loss and general
fitness. We offer volunteer programmes in many areas of the Garden such as in the Herbarium
and Library as well as in the garden itself. A modern apprenticeship scheme is providing
valuable opportunities for young people. We help our staff live healthier lives through active
management of our Healthy Working Lives programmes. To further enhance quality of life
issues a decision was made during the previous year to transform our Demonstration Garden
(which displayed plants exhibiting particular botanical features) into a more interactive Teaching
Garden. Plans are now developing and the area already includes themed plots such as
student’s vegetable plots, a fruit garden for demonstration and practical classes and a Postcode
Lottery funded Plot to Plate patch which is being used for teaching on fruit and vegetable
cultivation, workshops, demonstrations and classes run in conjunction with exhibitions and
workshops in the John Hope Gateway (for instance during the Science Festival this year). The
KPI for this impact is the number of visits to the four gardens and the target for the year was
802,000 and the figure achieved was 889,257, an increase of 8% over the previous year,
showing that we achieved the target.
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